Fracture reducing splint



July 28, 1936.

c. A. WILTROUT FRACTURE REDUCING SPLINT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1934 Atomey July 28, 1936. c. A. WILTROUT 2,043,832

FRACTURE REDUCING SPLINT Filed June 19, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I nventor Atm'ney Patented July 28, 1936 UNT STAS FRACTURE REDUCING sPLiN'r River Falls, Minn.

Application June 19. 1934 Serial No. 731,269

6 Claims.

The present invention appertains to new and useful improvements in surgical appliances and more particularly to a novel leg fracture reducing splint, of the type wherein the splint involves anchoring means for attachment to a sound leg and tensioning means between the anchoring and the splint unit which is attached to the fractured leg, for exerting a pull on the fractured leg to reduce the fracture and hold this fractured leg in extended position and in companionship with the sound leg.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a fracture reducing splint of the type specified wherein a scale is associated with the spring so that the tensionbeing exerted on the fractured leg can readily be determined. "Another important object of the present invention is to provide a fracture reducing splint of the type specified wherein the parts are made compact and do not extend a prohibitive distance beyond the feet to bear against the foot of a bed or other structure, which inconvenience is prevalent in several types now on the market.

During the course of the following specification and claims, other important objectsand advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary detailed sectional view, showing the apparatus in front elevation and the casts on the legs in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the splint feature.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tensioning 'means and scale.

' Figure 5 is an elevational view of the feed nut for the tensioning means.

Figure 6 represents multiple perspective views taken substantially of the four major parts of the apparatus.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken sub.- stantially online 'l| of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the scales barrel of the tensioning means. Referring to the drawings wherein'like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen, in Figure 1, that numeral 5 represents the lower portion of a human body, with numeral 6 designating the usual pelvis bone with theleg bones I attached thereto. Reference character a represents the good leg in the drawings, while reference character 12 represents the fractured leg.

A full description of the apparatus will now be given before description of the operation and application thereof is afforded.

By referring to Figure 6 and also to Figure 1, it can be seen that the apparatus consists of an anchor which involves a bar 8 having an ankle receiving offset 9 therein. A short extension i0 is attached as at l I to the bar 8 and is provided with an L member l2 having an opening I3 at its outer end. A cross member I4 is attached to the inside of the bar 8 just below the ankle receiving offset 9.. The bar 8' which in fact is preferably of strap iron-material is twisted at right angles at its lower end and bent backwardly to form a saddle i5. Numeral It represents the swingable lever having the apertured head I! at one end for disposition in the saddle l5. A pin or bolt I8 extends through the apertured saddle I5 and the apertured head I! for pivotally connecting thelever iii to the anchor bar '8.

The opposite end of the lever I6 is twisted to a right angular position and rolled backwardly to form the short barrel IS. The barrel l9 fits between the depending leg portions of the inverted U-shaped member 20, the bight portion of which is provided with a segmental shaped plate 2| of about ninety degrees, the same being provided with an arcuate slot 22 adjacent the curved edge thereof. Numeral 23 represents an enlarged U-shaped splint structure, the same being provided with the bight 23' having a block 24 secured upon the same and a central aperture 25 extending through the bight and the block 24 for receiving the bolt 26 which also extends through the opening 21 in the U-shaped member 20. In this manner the 'splint 23 proper is rotatably mounted upon the U-shaped connector 20 and it will be observed in Figure 3 that the bolt 28 extends through the leg portions of the U-shaped connector 20 and through the short barrel I!) of the lever I6 and in this maner the lever is pivotally connected to the splint. 'It will be observedinjFigure 6, as well as'in Figure 1, that the upper ends ofthe leg portions of the splint 23 are curved outwardly and backwardly as at 29 and that each leg of the splint proper'is providedwith a row of longitudinally spaced openings 30,

' The next important feature and the last involved are tensioning means, and the adjustment therefor andthe scales. By referring to Figure 4 it will be seen thatnumeral 3! represents an elonjgated barrelhaving a pin provided lug 32 in one "end, the pin '33 being adapted for disposition through the aperture l3 of the L-member l2 on the anchor bar extension when the apparatus is set up for use.

Extending into the barrel 3i from the opposite end thereof is the elongated and threaded rod 34 having a head 35 for riding engagement in the barrel. Numeral 36 represents a flanged bushing for engagementinto the last mentioned end of the barrel and through this the threaded rod 34 extends. A cagelike frame 31 is adapted to contain the coiled compressible spring :38 Which at one end bears against one end of the frame 37 and at its opposite end against the bushing 36.

The outside of the last mentioned-end portion of the barrel 3| is provided with longitudinally spaced and circumferentially extending markings or grooves 39 as well as longitudinally extending fiat portions 40 on which pound-pressureaeadings are inscribed, each circumferentially extending line or groove being interrupted by a readingor inscription. The :edge portion of the frame 31 at' 4! is complementary to this scale on the barrel 3|.

A winged nut'42 feedable on the threaded rod "34 is adapted to be fed against the frame 31 for compressing the spring. Obviously the disposition of the opposite end of the frame 31 with respect to the scale readings on the barrel 3| will determine the pound-pressure the spring is exerting on the lever IS in reducing the fracture. & A yoke 43 at the outer end of the threaded rod 34 engages-over the 'lever' and a pin is disposed through the yoke and the opening 44 of the lever for pivotally connecting the yoke and lever together. j

In applying the apparatus, the anchor bar 8 is held'in place on the 'good leg a by the cast 45 so that the saddle I5 will project beyond the foot to the limited extent shown in Figure 1. The

. other end'of'the anchorbar'willhave'theL -member 12 extending outside of the cast and through the opening I3 thereof the pin"3'3'onthe 'ten'sioning fan'dscale'unit will be inserted. :The pins 46 are now driven through the leg at the proper point I and through the ankle The flexible leg portions of the splint '23are now snapped over the ends of the pin at the ankle, and th'e' bight23 of the splint is adjusted on the U-shaped'c'onnector 20 and fixed by the bolt and nut detent 41. This adjustment afiords the necessary toein'g :in of the foot incident to the proper reduction of the fracture. 1

Now with the anchor properly fixed, the splint "applied to the bad leg; the bad leg toed in, and the cast applied to thebad leg, all that is required now is to get the proper pull on the fractured leg to absolutely reduce the fracture.

'The old method of maintaining fractures under 'tensionwas to stretch the fractured leg by suspended weights. In that method, it was very easy to determine how much' weight should be applied and the physician in charge always knew just 'how much weight was employed.

However, with the types of fracture reducing apparatus where'the good legis employed for the anchor and aspri'ng is interposed between the anchor and the splint, no means has been devised for efiicientl-y ascertaining the actual tension being employed.v i 1 ,In the present invention, by adjusting the wing "nut42 on the threaded rod 3.4, the attendant can ,set the lever 16 at a tension .hebel'ieves will reduce thefracture and then ieavethe appliance the said link.

with the assurance that there is ample tension to maintain the fracture reduced.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size, and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A fracture splint comprising a good leg anchor extending longitudinally on the leg, a bad leg attaching-member, a pivotal link connection between the lower end of the anchor and the attaching -member, gand adjusting means between the anchor at its upper end portion and the intermediateportion of the link.

2. A 'fract-uresplint comprising a good leg anchorgextending longitudinally on the leg, a bad leg attaching member, a pivotal link connection between thel-ow-er end of the anchor and the attaching member, and an extensible-adjusting u-n-it interposed between the upper end of the anchor and the intermediate portion of the link.

'3. A fracture splint comprising a good leg anchor extending longitudinally on the leg, a bad leg attaching member, a pivotal link connection between the lower end of the anchor and the attaching member, and adjusting means between the anchor at its upperend portion and the intermediate portion of thelink, said adjusting means consisting of a barrel connected at one end to the anchor, a rod extending into the barrel and provided with threads, and a spring interposed between the nut and the adjacent end of the barrel, said rod being attached at its outer 'end 't'othe intermediate portion of the link. V p

4. A fracture splint comprising a good leg anchor extending longitudinally on the leg, a bad ileg attaching member, a pivotal link connection between {the lower end ofthe anchor and the attaching member, and adjusting means "between the anchor at its upper end portion and the'int'ermediate portion of the link, said adjusting means consisting of a barrel connected at one end to the anchor, a rodextendir'rg into the'barrel and provided with threads, and a spring interposed between. the nut and the adjac'ent end of the "barrel, said rod being attached at its outer end to the intermediate portion of the 'l'inkgjsaid barrel at the last mentioned end portionithereo'f being provided with scale readings, and a .slide on said end of the barrel actuated by the'nu't in complement with said scale readings.

5. In a fracture splintcomprising a good leg anchor extending longitudinally on the leg, a bad leg attaching member, a pivotal link connection between the lower end of the anchor and the theanchorat itsupper end portionand the intermediate portion-of the link, said means including 'a scale for determining the tension imposed'fon I 6. Afracturesplin't comprising a good leg an- 'chor;fa cast'for afiixing the good leg anchor to the foot portion of the good leg, said goodleg anchor provided with an extension disposed for a substantial distance through-thelcas't to terminate adjacent the knee of the good leg, aload chors, and adjusting means between the *m terjmediate portion of the link and the knee end of the good leg anchor extension.

leg anchor, a pivotal link'between the saidan- 7o cannon wmrnop'r. 

